Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-04-15
THAaritnltmral.
Seeding and More Variety.
COL. L. D. CURTIS.

err and timothy are the main rsli-
rr.rf most farmers for meadows and
for as, with the hope that the natural
wors will ''come in" and take the place
thee kinds sown when they die out,
catey often do, in few years. Glover
s,ely survives longer than two years,
81 the timothy fingers along, gradu-
y disappearing, until in few years,
hight soils, it is all gone. Where the
lrmath of timothy is not pastured off,
, roots will retain their hold on the
il longer; but when the crowns are
# bare, it is not uncommon to see
whole field killed out in one winter. In
very rich ground clover may be kept
alive for several years, but it cannot be
depended upon longer than for second
crop. More hay can be had from the
usual seeding of clover and timothy
than from any other. The clover occu-
pies the land the first year almost ex-
clusively the following year it becomes
thinner, and the timothy forms most Of
the crop each year afterward. Then its
place is gradually taken by Red-top,
Bluegrass, or the more common wire
grass natural to all of the Eestern and
Middle States.
Blue grass, commonly known as Ken
lucky Bluegrass, and East and North
as June grass, grows almost as luxuri-
antly on the rich soils Of the Ohio VAL
ley as where it does its best on the lime
stone lands in Kentucky Rsd-top is
common grass, but not so universal as
the June or Blue.g grass. 1t is more nat
ural to moist lands, but is almost indig-
cnous everywhere, as its seeds scatter
easily. The grass which will furnish
the most pasture is Orchard grass. 1t
has tall stem on good land, and mass
of broad leaves starting out from the
crown. 1t rarely sends up more than
one seed-stem in a season, but the broad
leaves will re-appear as often as cut off,
and grow on rich land with remarkable
rapidity. No grass is its equal for ra-
pidity Of growth and the amount of feed
it will supply, except, perhaps, Blue
grass under very favorable conditions.
There is one other common grass which
Is natural to most soils-the Meadow
Fescue-which is also valuable Tor a
permanent seeding. All the grasses
spoken Of, except timothy and clover
(called a grass for convenience, have
long, wirey roots, which take rank hold
on the ground aud are not easily dis.
turbed by frost or affected by drouth. -
This popularity of growth fits them for q
long life, aud makes them adapted for
permanent meadows or pastures. More
hay to the acre can be had of timothy
than any other grass so long as it covers
the ground, and on this account great
care should be taken to allow a growth
of aftermath to protect the roots The
fact is, timothy meadow should never
be pastured at all lift is desired to make
it permanent. And it s;sould always be
cut when the stems are green. If al.
lowed to get dead ripe, the vitality Of
the root becomes exhausted, and the
roots, if they do not die, will renew
themselves very slowly, especially in dry
weather. 1t is an injury to any mead
ow to allow the grass to become fully
ripe.
There is too much hap-hazard work
connected with seeding to grass. There
should be more effort at permanency
more pains-taking in preparing the soil
and in putting in the seed To secure
a good grass crop. this should be the
only crop expected from the land. Glover
and timothy will do we'll sown in the
early spring with wheat or rye. but mos
ether grasses will not do we'll with any
grain crop, and should DO put 10 as early
as possible in the spring Ms an entire
crop. The growth Of the finer grasses
is slow at first, as they come up with
only tiny shoot. and the spread of root
and foliage to the full extent really take.
two years. The seed is more costly and
greater amount is required, hence i,
cannot be done so often, but if well done
it pays best in the end. Plenty of 6ns
manure should be prepared to be har.
rowed in with the seed, and in its alb
sence from 200 to 500 pounds of super
phosphate, or other reliable concentrated
fertilizer. should be spread over an acre.
There is no place where these manures
will pay better.
A good mixture of seed sown broad
east both ways, is two bushels Of Orch
ard grass, two bushels Of Blues grass, two
bushels Of ed-top. AMI one bushe Of
Nj, adow Feseue, TO he covered with d
good brush harrow The surface of the
ground should be made smooth, free
from Jumps and clods, and in light and
friable condition, To get it in this form
the roller and the harrow should be used
freely A field seeded down in this way
with plenty of seed should yield good
return for years. and will do SO if it is
not made bare in autumn by tho pastur-
ing of cattle. and in consequence des-
troyed by exposure TO the severe winter
weather. We should farm more for per-
manency in both pastures and meadows.
and so save cost and insure better yields
American Agriculiurist.